"Mr. Speaker, when the Sino - British Joint Declaration was negotiated in 1997, it guaranteed the preservation of freedoms basic to life in Hong Kong. Just five years later, those freedoms -- freedom of press, freedom of religion, freedom of association -- are under assault.
"The House must act today to make clear to the Hong Kong government and to the People’s Republic of China the seriousness with which the United States views any action that would subvert the promise of human rights contained in the Joint Declaration.
"The draft provisions to implement Article 23 of Hong Kong’s Basic Law would give Beijing the ability to determine what types of organizations could exist in Hong Kong and which views could be expressed.
"Many of us received a delegation led by Martin Lee, the very distinguished democracy advocate in Hong Kong, just a few weeks ago. The delegation expressed their concern and the impact that this action would have on Hong Kong as we have known it, as a dynamic society where business has flourished because information has been able to flow freely.
"This action is a significant threat to Hong Kong’s autonomy, and to the freedoms that make it a center for the exchange of information and ideas.
"It’s an even greater concern because the movement toward popular democracy, as required under the Basic Law, has not begun. I commend President Bush on the Administration’s forceful opposition last Thursday to the Article 23 proposal.
"The Administration statement emphasized that: 'Hong Kong’s special status, endorsed by the United States under the Hong Kong Policy Act, depends on the local authorities’ protection of human and civil rights and the preservation of the territory’s autonomy. The United States opposes any law that threatens the territory’s unique identity, including the current version of Article 23 legislation.' That is the President’s statement
"Hopefully, after leaders in Hong Kong and Beijing reflect seriously on those words and the strong sentiments contained in the legislation we are considering today, they will move to amend the proposal to preserve the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong that they were promised.
"Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the leadership again of the International Relations Committee, Mr. (Henry) Hyde, Mr. (Tom) Lantos, and Mr. (Chris) Smith, and the leadership of Mr. (Chris) Cox in introducing this legislation, I was pleased to join him in doing so. The International Relations Committee has provided an opportunity for the House to go on record in favor of the preservation of human rights in Hong Kong and in opposition to actions that threaten them.
"I urge the overwhelming adoption of this measure to underscore our commitment
to the cause of freedom in Hong Kong."
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